Container for transport by means of compressed air of granular or sluggishly flowing material

ABSTRACT

A container with at least one nozzle for introducing turbulent compressed air into the container for transport of granular or sluggishly flowing material out of the container, which nozzle forms the outlet from a housing into which the air is pulsed by means of a rotor driven by the air entering the housing, which rotor may be eccentric balanced to produce vibrations of the housing in the container.

United States Patent 1 1 Sem Aug. 20, 1974 [54] CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORT BY MEANS 2,170,258 8/1939 Borch 302/56 X COMPRESSED AER 0 GRANULAR ()R 3,306,676 2/1967 Gurney 302/53 3,713,564 1/1973 Cottrell 259/DlG. 17 X SLUGGISHLY FLOWING MATERIAL Bjarne Sem, Niels Juelsgt. 13, Oslo 2, Norway June 22, 1973 Inventor:

Filed:

Appl. No.: 372,614

Foreign Application Priority Data July 6, 1972 Norway 2428/72 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-W. Scott Carson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Young & Thompson [57] ABSTRACT A container with at least one nozzle for introducing turbulent compressed air into the container for transport of granular or sluggishly flowing material out of the container, which nozzle forms the outlet from a housing into which the air is pulsed by means of a rotor driven by the air entering the housing, which rotor may be eccentric balanced to produce vibrations of the housing in the container.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORT BY MEANS OF COMPRESSED AIR OF GRANULAR OR SLUGGISHLY FLOWING MATERIAL The invention relates to an improvement in a container for compressed air transport of granular material or sluggishly flowing material, for example, concrete, comprising at least one nozzle arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the container for introduction of compressed air and having a plate-shaped element pro vided with turbulence-producing channels provided in front of the nozzle. From Norwegian Pat. No. ll9.074 a container is known for transport by means of compressed air of granular material or a sluggishly flowing mass. The container comprises a funnel-shaped bottom part terminating in a discharge opening and at least one nozzle arranged for introduction of compressed air on the inner peripheral surface of the container, the axis of said nozzle being in oblique downward direction with respect to the axis of the container. In order to achieve efficient transport, the nozzle here is provided with a plate-shaped element, located with its plane at right angles to the axis of the nozzle and provided with a plurality of through-channels arranged in a circle and obliquely disposed with respect to said plane in the same direction along the circle. A turbulent formation is thus produced for the compressed air which, in turn, effects an advantageous transport of the material.

It has, however, proved that this formation of turbulence is not always adequate, and this applies particularly with extreme mixtures, with concrete, for example rich or lean, dry concrete. Such masses either flow too sluggishly or adhere to the walls of the container.

The object of the invention is therefore to improve the effect produced by the compressed air nozzles, so as to improve the transport of the mass and improve the turbulence of the mass with less adherence to the walls of the container.

In accordance with the invention this is achieved in that the plate-shaped element is mounted in a cylindrical housing connected to the nozzle, that a rotor is mounted in the housing between the elements and the end wall of the housing in order to produce vibrations, and that the compressed air is introduced into the housing through an inlet pipe arranged eccentrically or obliquely, with respect to the housing, on the peripheral surface of the housing in the area of the rotor.

The advantages thus achieved reside in the fact that, in addition to the formation of turbulence, vibrations and pulses are produced both for the air introduced and for the entire housing and thereby the nozzle and its connection to the actual container. With concrete, therefore, this means that the cement gruel will be drawn more rapidly out toward the container wall and improve the sliding effect of the cement. The irregularities in air supply and vibrations accentuate the turbulence and cause a reduction of friction on the sides of the container. The pulsing or vibration can be accentuated in accordance with the embodiment of the means according to the invention.

Thus, according to a further feature of the invention, the rotor may be formed as one or more rod-shaped elements having closure plates at least at one end thereof. Suitably the closure plates are then disposed obliquely with respect to the cylindrical surface of the housing.

The rotor thereby closes the supply of air substan tially completely each time it passes the air inlet and thus produces a pulsation which can be regulated by the number of rod elements with closure plates, and by means of the air pressure. One closure element is generally adequate. The rotor is rotated by the compressed air introduced and should therefore have a somewhat oblique disposition with respect to the cylindrical surface, so that the air introduced tangentially through the inlet exerts a displacing force on the plate. The fact that a small opening remains and complete closure is not achieved, is insignificant.

If pulsation of the air is preferred, it is expedient to produce the rotor from light materials and with the centre of gravity thereof located at the axis of rotation. The advantage of a light construction with uniform rotation is achieved thereby.

If a mass which readily adheres to the walls is to be transported in the container, however, it may be desirable also to provide mechanical vibration. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, it is therefore expedient to produce the rotor from heavy materials and having its centre of gravity eccentric to the axis of rotation. It is then possible to produce both mechanical vibration of the entire container and pulsation, which is achieved by means of the closure plate, or the closure plate may be omitted so that only an eccentric rotor is provided which imparts vibration or agitation to the apparatus and merely a weak pulsation of the air flow.

The invention is further explained in the following by means of an embodiment example on the drawing which illustrates on,

FIG. I, the lower part of a container for compressed air transport, the means according to the invention being disposed on the peripheral surface of the container.

FIG. 2, an enlarged section of the means according to the invention, and

FIG. 3A-C, three embodiment examples of the rotor in the means, illustrated in diagram in a section along the line III-III.

FIG. 1 is a view of the lower funnel-shaped part 1 of a container for compressed air transport of granular material, or material which flows sluggishly, for example, concrete. The part 1 is connected at the bottom thereof to a discharge pipe 2. Compressed air is introduced into the container from a compressor, not shown, through nozzles 3 arranged in the wall of the container, the nozzles being integral with a cylindrical housing 4 surrounding the means according to the invention. The compressed air is introduced into the housing 4 from the compressor through the pipe 5 which enters the cylindrical surface tangentially.

The means according to the invention is further illustrated on FIG. 2. The nozzle 3 is connected to the housing 4, for example, by a screw connection. In the housing 4, the turbulence-producing, plate-shaped element 6 is mounted adjacent the nozzle 3. The construction of this element is described in Norwegian Pat. No. 1 19.074 and is not further described herein, therefore, and is indicated on the drawing in diagram only. A shaft 7 is arranged between the plate-shaped element 6 and the end wall 8 of the housing 4, on which shaft is secured a rotor 9. The rotor 9 is arranged below the air inlet pipe 5.

As will be clear from the FIGS. 3A-C, the air inlet pipe 5 is obliquely disposed, in the example shown, tangentially with respect to the cylindrical casing of the housing 4. In the embodiment example shown on FIG. 3, the rotor is also formed as a rod-shaped element 9. A plurality of rod-shaped elements may also be used, however, or another shape of rotor.

The FIGS. 3A*C illustrate three different constructions of the rotor. On FIG. 3A, the rotor consists of the rod-shaped element 9 which rotates about the shaft 7 and is provided at one end with a closure plate M), the rod elements being provided at their other ends with a counter-balance or the like 11, so that the centre of gravity of the rotor is in the axis of rotation. The closure plate 10 is of a shape such that, in dimension, it fits the pipe opening of the pipe 5. In order to achieve the best possible displacement force from the compressed air introduced through the pipe 5, since the compressed air constitutes the driving force for the rotor, the plate 10 is somewhat obliquely disposed with respect to the cylindrical surface of the housing as illustrated on the drawing. Complete closure of the pipe 5 is admittedly not achieved by this embodiment, however, the closure will be sufficient to achieve the desired effect. The inlet for the turbulence channels in the element 6 is also indicated on the drawing.

If a mechanical vibration for the entire unit is desired, and thereby also for the container 1, the means according to the invention may be effected as illustrated on FIG. 3B. The means corresponds to that on FIG. 3A but the counter-balance 11 is omitted so that the centre of gravity of the rotor is not in the axis of rotation, an eccenter effect being thus achieved which, in addition, imparts mechanical agitation.

If such mechanical agitation is preferred, the means as illustrated on FIG. 3C can be effected with a rotor without closure plate and with an uneven weight distribution of the arms of the rod element instead, so that there is a greater weight at 12. A powerful eccenter effeet and a reduced air pulsation is thus achieved.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

ll. Improvement in a container for compressed air transport of granular material or sluggishly flowing material comprising at least one nozzle (3) arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the container (1) for introduction of compressed air, with plate-shaped element (6) provided with turbulence-producing channels connected in front of the nozzle (3), characterized in that the plate-shaped element (6) is mounted in a cylindrical housing (4) connected to the nozzle (3), that in the housing (4), between the element (6) and the end wall (8) of the housing, a rotor (9) is provided for production of vibrations, and that the compressed air is introduced into the housing through an inlet pipe (5) arranged eccentricly to the housing (4) on the peripheral surface of the housing in the area of the rotor (9).

2. Improvement according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor is formed as one or more rod-shaped elements (9) having a closure plate (10) for the inlet pipe (5) at least at one end.

3. Improvement according to claim 2, characterized in that the closure plate (10) is obliquely disposed with respect to the cylindrical surface of the housing (4).

4. Means according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotor (9) is produced from light materials and has its centre of gravity located at the axis of rotation (7 5. Means according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotor 9) is produced from heavy materials and has its centre of gravity located eccentrically to the axis of rotation (7). 

1. Improvement in a container for compressed air transport of granular material or sluggishly flowing material comprising at least one nozzle (3) arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the container (1) for introduction of compressed air, with plateshaped element (6) provided with turbulence-producing channels connected in front of the nozzle (3), characterized in that the plate-shaped element (6) is mounted in a cylindrical housing (4) connected to the nozzle (3), that in the housing (4), between the element (6) and the end wall (8) of the housing, a rotor (9) is provided for production of vibrations, and that the compressed air is introduced into the housing through an inlet pipe (5) arranged eccentricly to the housing (4) on the peripheral surface of the housing in the area of the rotor (9).
 2. Improvement according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor is formed as one or more rod-shaped elements (9) having a closure plate (10) for the inlet pipe (5) at least at one end.
 3. Improvement according to claim 2, characterized in that the closure plate (10) is obliquely disposed with respect to the cylindrical surface of the housing (4).
 4. Means according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotor (9) is produced from light materials and has its centre of gravity located at the axis of rotation (7).
 5. Means according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotor (9) is produced from heavy materials and has its centre of gravity located eccentrically to the axis of rotation (7). 